The Menace of Syrian Chemical Weapons

A threat in the hands of Bashar Assad, but perhaps an even bigger one if his regime falls.

By

Jamie M. Fly

Jan. 1, 2013 6:47 p.m. ET

After standing on the sidelines for 21 months while Syrian dictator Bashar Assad slaughtered tens of thousands of his own people, President Obama recently warned that Assad will cross a "red line" if he uses his chemical arsenal. "If you make the tragic mistake of using these weapons," he said, "there will be consequences, and you will be held accountable."

Western officials should be concerned about any attempt by Assad to use mustard gas or nerve agents against his brutalized people. But...